Butter Burgers

Total Time Prep/Total Time: 30 min.
Yield 4 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
If you love butter burgers—or, at least, stops at Culver's—as much as Wisconsinites do, our recipe for homemade butter burgers is worth a shot. Serve them with french fries and frozen custard, and you've got a full midwestern meal!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 5 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 4 hamburger buns, split
  • 4 slices cheddar cheese, optional
  • Optional toppings: Tomato slices, lettuce leaves, sliced onion, dill pickle slices, ketchup and mustard

Directions

  1. Shape beef into four patties, each 1/2-in. thick. Sprinkle ground patties with salt and pepper.
  2. Working in batches if needed, heat butter in a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. With a heavy metal spatula or burger press, flatten each patty to 1/4-in. thickness. Cook until edges start to brown, about 1-1/2 minutes; flip burgers. Cook until well browned and a thermometer reads at least 160°, about 1 minute longer. If desired, top with a slice of cheddar cheese. Remove from pan; keep warm. Add 2 tablespoons butter to the same pan, repeat with remaining beef patties.
  3. Add remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan; add bun. Toast until golden brown.
  4. Transfer burgers to toasted buns and serve with desired toppings.

Nutrition Facts

1 burger: 429 calories, 26g fat (13g saturated fat), 109mg cholesterol, 686mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 26g protein.

Butter burgers are a beloved Wisconsin comfort food most often found at Culver's, a popular Midwestern fast food chain. They're often ordered and served with piping hot fried cheese curds, which are another Wisconsin classic. —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Recipe Creator

© 2025 RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC